Box magazine for automatic loading weapons



March 12, 1935'. F, HERLACH Er AL 1,994,392

I BOX MAGAZINE FOR AUTOMATIC LOADING WEAPONS Filed Apri} 1''! 1933 2.Sheets-Sheet 1 l/i i igl lqlll D i/en Zora: 2% '4 //e 719 M in ZWHZWZZZk -A March 12, 1935. F. HERLACH ET AL 1,994,392

BOX MAGAZINE FOR AUTOMATIC LOADING WEAPONS Filed April 17, 1953 2Sheets-Sheet 2 fwl/e'n for.

Patented Mar. 12, 1935 Fritz flerlach and Theodor Ralinla, Solothur n,"I i Switzerland, assignors to Waflenfabrik Solo-T thurn A.-G.',Solothurn, Switzerland, a corpora- V tion of Switzerland I 7 ApplicationApril 17, 1933, SeriaTNo. 666,598 f 1' n'Germany July"12,1932

7 Claims. (Cl.:89-'-33) The invention relates to a box magazine ,i'o tothe weapon-and finally also to serve as support use in automaticfirearms. Its object is to, prefor'the' various members and thearticulation of pare quicklyfor firing again a magazine-which, thehingedcover to be arranged thereon. V has been fired until empty so as toeliminate Thewithdrawal of the feeder into its tensioned time-wastingfilling operationsand to render the position for freeing the spaceneeded by the pack 5 troublesome carrying offilled magazines'or specialof;cartr-idg es in the magazine is facilitated by a filling devicesunnecessary. The. magazine may curved lever which is pivotally mountedabout a be fixed and remain permanently on the'weapon, hinge on theouter, front corner of themagazine or, preferably, it may beaninterchangeable, de-. and engages a projection on the feeder, and

10; tachable magazine. V which lever is provided with a handle. The

For. this: purpose, x themagazine according to feederistensioned by apull on the curved lever, the invention has a casing with an opening inone i which is in a convenient position for the gunner; wall thereof toallow a cartridge pack to be in- This curved leverslides along theprojection of serted, a cover for said opening, and a spring the feeder,presses the latter outwards and as the pressedfeederoperable from theoutside to force retraction of the feeder-progresses thereby in- 15 thecartridge. forward against retaining *lips at creasesthe springresistance, and the distance the mouth of the magazine, whenceitisthrust of the pivotal point ofthe lever from its point forwards by apart of the weapon proper. of engagement on the feeder becomesconstantly Further, according to the invention andinconsmalleriso ,thatthe effort-to be exerted on the trastto the known arrangements with apositive handle; during ,the entire tensioningprocess, in 20 controlbetween thenfeed er and the cover, the, spite of increasingtension ofthe-feeder spring, magazine is provided with a latch device whichremains approximately the,same,; and. is modalternately secures thefeeder, which has beenfl erately: low. e withdrawninto its tensionedipositiom against The. pack of; cartridges-provided, for the re- 25,flying forward prematurely, or secures the cover, plenishmentofammunition may be arranged for which has been brought intoclosedposition, one ormore row for/instanc e with zig-zagpoagainst theaction of a -spring. In the'known 'sitioning of the cartridges. It,contains the enarrangements wherein the return of thefeeder tire charge,for a magazine arranged in a clip. depends on" the, opening of amagazinecover, a from which the Ca tr dges are thrust by the 30, speciallocking deviceis requiredfor the cover to magazine feeder-upqto the.retaining lips of the oppose the action of the feeder spring when it ismagazine mouth and-thusgintotherange of thein its open positionandwhichyin order that the member of the veapoowhich sweeps them intomagazine may be closed, must be speciallyre i thechamber in the barrelof the weapon. Lockleased by hand. i This is avoided in the arrange ingmeans for securing the cartridges in the clip as, ment according tothepresent invention which during transport until use in the magazine are 3simplifies both the manipulation to supply am-' moved, asideautomatically, by;a device actuated munition and the construction of theapparatus by the; movable magazine, :wall or cover, to suchitself- Afterthe Withdrawal e feeder and an extent that the cartridges ,canbe thrustout the insertion ,of the pack of cartridges only a of the-clip by meansof the magazine-feeder,

Closing v t 0 the c required-r11 withoutrany special expenditure offorce. The 40 .m itlsertmn of taarm-dge packs i emptied clip" isautomatically. ejected when the g f i n g g g g i the ma magazine isopened .by, for instance, in conseof or I upwards, and then toconstruct'thisside 5 as a' tbroughan f at the bottom thereof cover adaptedtopivot about the end of the maga new m f d goldmg zine onthe weaponside. The magazine may be p ff l w n e case adaptedto be attached andremoved; for which f j d' P of Partndges, nflorder purpose it isadvisable for it tobe constructed as to e n h foliemost cartndge locatedm the P a metalcasing with a steel m outhpie'ce in front. range ofthe QE Q 9: the Weapon from Themouthpiece is thereby able to withstand the eo o s ob th n of th great stress caused by frequentappIication andfollowing second d t d c t de s, s parators removal'of the magazineandis'alsoof sufiicient of known typ ay a ed Oh e magastrength to'co-operate with the retaining devices 21119010? the p A plurallty of511011 magaengaging therewithfor connecting the-magazinezines'may, ofcourse, also be used on a weapon,

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal .sectionalongthe line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section along the line 3-3 of Fig. 1; v i

Fig. 4 is a cross-section along the line 4 -4 of Fig. 1;

Figs. 5 to 8 show an example ofconstruction of a two-row cartridgepacking-for grooved cartridges, in which,

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic side view of? a cartridge clip with cartridges,a Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic end viewthereof,

Fig. 7a is adiagramma-tic top View ofthe left end of Fig. 5, 7 1 Fig. 7bis a diagrammatic top view of th'e right end of'Fig. 5, and v Fig. 8 isa diagrammatic end view'of a modified clip; and p I Figs. 9 and 10 arean exampleof construction of a two-row packing for rim "cartridges,inwhich,

Fig. 9 is a diagrammatic side view of a cartridge clip with cartridges,and 1 Fig. 10 is a diagrammatic end view thereof.

The magazine consists of amouthpiece 1 theframe 2 open at the upperside; and the end plate 3, which parts are preferably connected togetherto forma rig-id casing by welding. The mouthpiece l which is of steeland is provided with strong walls, carries in front'resil ient' butstiff retaining lips 4 by which the cartridgesare held in knownmanner-in such-a positionthat they can be seized singl yby theappropriatepart of the weapon (the lock member 5) and canbe swept intheir l'or'igitudinal direction out of the magazine into the chamber 6of the barrel.v

of the weapon. On the mouthpiece 1- there' are zine to the weapon. 1 i

also fitted the means for connecting the ma'ga-- As shown in Fig. '1this' i-s'a memberfl of semi-- circular cross-section on thefront-sideof'themagazine, which, together with a bearing groove on the weaponwhich'recei-vesit, forms a selfreleasing pivot joint for the swingingforward of the magazineout from its-position of use. i Themagazine issecured in fth-is positionby-a flatsided bolt 9 which engages with acatch 8 on therearside of the mouthpiece; and which is pivotally mountedin the-weapon,-.whichbolt: is. held turned into the locking position bya springxgnot shown, or can be made arrestable in the. released.

and locked position by suitable lockingmeansar Anfabutment lOico-o'perating with themaga-l zine projection 8. prevents. the magazinefrom; swinging too. far into; the weapon. If the bolt 9.". the handleofwhich (not shown) is located in easy reach of the. thumbpof, thegunnersnhand.

which is. aroundthe'magazine, is turned into its release position, themagazine. can be, turned forward about the member? until the projection-8 has: passed-the; bolt 9;, and, then withdrawn from swung back so farthatthe proiection 8. engag es.

behind the bolt 9. Further, the magazine mouthpiece carries theattachment and guide members for the cover which in the example in thedrawings is a hinged cover 11 adapted to close the open top of the.magazine, This cover is adapted to pivot about a hinge formed by twoeyes 12 on' the mouthpiece and two eyes 13 onitself with the.appropriate bolt 14.. Thepretensioned spiral spring 15mounted betweenthe eyes 13 on the bolt 14-.tends to. hold .the cover 11 constantlyopen.

In the magazine frame 2, the feeder 16 is guided by means of its sides17 and 18 and by two lateral surfaceslQ of a bearing member 20 weldedthereto.

These surfaces 19 are guided in a slot 21 in the bottom side of themagazine. Further, the bearing member 20, by means of two surfaces 22,.engages under the ridge 23 surcured against falling out of the magazinewhen the cover 11 is open. In order that it may be possible to insertand remove the feeder, the

feeder spring .27, is: to; be moved backwards in the magazine. Thehandle 28 of thelev'er 26 is located behind the rear side of themagazine andthe lever arm 26 of such curvature that the pressure'exertedby the latter on the feeder rol'ler25 is. directed approximately in thedirection. of movement of the feeder. The lever 26 itself is pivotallymounted in a bearing lug 29 welded to the front outer corner of themagazinewThus when theufeeder is thrust back against? the constantlyincreasing force of the spring. 2'1, the distance of the roller 25. fromthe pivoting point 29 and, therefore, also the resisting torque aboutthis point becomes constantly smaller,. and only a uniform moderateforceneedbe applied-by the operator to the lever. handle 28.. 1 A.spiral spring 29a in the lug 29 automatically returns the lever 26 toand holds-it in. its. initial position shown in Fig. l, whereitrestsagainst an attachment. on the magazine. The spring 27 is fixed andsupported in. the feeder by bent members 30 in the latter, its other endresting. againstthe end plate 3 of the magazine; pins 31' and 32fixed-toxthe end plate: 3 prevent-the outer end, of the spring fromspringing out when .the cover 11 is open;

, The: end plate; is provided'with a recess 33 in rounding the slot 21whereby the feeder is seis mounted; and held by a-spring '36 supportedvagainst 'the end plate 3 in its; norma lyposition, in which. it rests.with its; surface 3'7 against the. end plate 3:-of the magazine.

' When" the feeder 16 is withdrawnqan inclined surface 38 of itsbearing. member '20 comes into;

contact withthe projection 39- on the lower arm of the latch 35..Thelatter ispthereby swun downwards against the pressure of its spring36. The feeder'ldcan now be withdrawn a little further in themagazinethan isnecessary for the passing of the; lower arm of the latch 35through-the slot ,40- located in the bearing mem-,

ber 20 and; for the subsequent engagement ;of the projection 39 infrontof the surface 41 of the bearing'rnember 20 and with suchwithdrawal-theinclinedsurface 38 of the bearin member -2.o.;a1 so: comesinto. contact with thev inclined surface.- 42 .-onfthedower arm .of thelatch 35.

Thus the. latteris. swung downwards further than is possiblev bythemengagementof. its pro;-

jection 39 with the surface 3831fv thenthe'presof the bearing member 20,-andpreventsthefeed er from. proceeding further forward; Previously;the'latch 35, by means ofmthe projection 43 of its upwardlydirectedcarm;had: held the lid 11,

which tends to rise underltheiaction of 'the'spring 15, inits closed.-position. In consequence of the* turning of 1 the latchi which occurs:on the return of. the feeder l6 when the surfaces38 and 42 engage, 3the cover. 1 1 is released and springs up into its open position asshown inlthedraw The arrangement of the second inclined sure faceg42 onthe lower arm .of the latchwnsures the satisfactory'loperation, of thelocking device I and enables accurate formation of the lockingsurfaceson the leverprojections 39 and 43 tobe obtained withsuificiently large permissible tolerance. oThe lattenprojection43located oirthe upper arm of the:latch= 35-,'on the re-closing ofthe1cover. 11, comes intocontact with the inclined surface 44 oftheiretainingsslot45.in'the cover :and is-forced aside, and, before itssub-' sequent snapping back into position .to hold the" cover springsthewlever35 so far that the projection-39 releases the tensioned feederso that it can fly forward'. Now the depth. of: the engagingnsurfacexofthe projection 39 is greater the disengagement of P43 from the surface44 where it would. be inconvenienh is compensated by the slight extraturn of the lever'35 produced by means of the inclined lever surface 42.inoooperationwithlthe inclined, .surface38. on the feeder. 1

r The cartridge packi l intended iorwfilling a, magazine of the typedescribed above is ofxlthe two-row type and completely' charge'si' themagazine. Itslength is such that: it fitsin the maga'a zineispace whichisfreed when the feeder 16. is

withdrawn. andthercoverl l. opened, while '1eav-" ing a free spaceinifrontxof. it:in themagazine mouthpiece .1, which. space accommodatesthe cartridgesnthrust out'in loose order from the pack. Itisipreferablei'to arrange for the cartridge pack to accommodate an evennumber of cartridges and for their two ends to be arranged symmetricallyto one another, so that the pack can be placed in the magazine eitherside uppermost. j

Theclip 46 or 47 which holds the cartridges of the pack together,according to the form of construction shown in Figs; 5 tom, consists ofa U-shaped plate of steel, tin or brass, the side walls of which-asshown in Fig. 8--can be stiffened by channels 48, and having twolongitudinally directed inner projections 49 (Fig.- 6), or

alternatively two longitudinal grooves 50 as shownin Fig. 10co-operating with the cartridge grooves or rims respectively toflpreventthem from falling out. in the direction of the longitudinal axis of thecartridges. According to Fig.

' two rows of cartridges to be held, closely toa 3i gether; so thatthey. are held together as securely as in the case of a rim. cartridgeswithout sucha stepbeingcprovidedin the clip. At both.

its ends, namely. at diagonally opposite corners;

thecartridge clip 46 or .47 carries lips-52 formed bycutting' away atthe .endsof the-clips the por-. tions containingtheinternal..projections.;49 or thegrooves :50, the lipsthus formedbeing bent inwards; Each lip, embraces the outermost cartridge at therespectiveend of the clip and prevents the cartridges from being removedunintentionally from theclip. These lips areprovided with extensions 53whichistand out from the clip, one of whichiexten'sions, afterthe framehas been placedin the.,mag'azine, engaging underthe, projection 54:0f a.bell crank. 'lever 56 adapted tovpivot abouta bolt mounted in themagazine frame. 1 1

@Whenthe magazine, lid; is open this bell crank lever,,owing to thepressure of its spring 5641, protrudes with its second ,arm 57 beyondthe upper. edge, of the magazine frame'2, so that when-thecover llisflclosed it'is depressed therebyand with its projection 54 bendsoutthe lip 52 at the front end ofthe cartridge clip .46 or 47. fromthepath of-theqcartridges bypressure 011112118 extension 53. This takesplace in the last' part ofthe closing movement of the cover and thesimultaneously released feeder can thrust thecartridges, withoutencountering any considerable opposition, from the cartridge 7 clipagainst ,theretaining lip of the magazine mouthpiece.

, The cartridge clip- 46 or 47 may be secured against longitudinaldisplacementin the magae zine byone end of the clip resting againstthe.projection-54 oi the bell crank lever 56;.and the other or outer end bya projection 58 fixed in the magazine frame. This arrangement may beeffeoted .in'such a manner that when the. cartridge. clip is in contact..with the projection 54a free space existsbetween its, outer end andthepromotion- 58, thecartridge clip is taken back through this-space whenthe feeder 16 is withdrawn, in order to move out of the range-ofthefiprojection 54of;thebell crank-lever. 56.1 V, I;

,Inorder that the clip 46or 4'7 may be secured in the magazine againstturning or transverse displacement; also support surfaces are providedin the magazine forlthe longitudinal edges ,59 of the side wall parts ofthe cartridge clips The lower supporting surface is formed bythe limit,ing edge 60 of an opening 61 in the bottom side i of the magazine,permitting in known manner the by continuous ejection of its cartridgeunder the pressure of the magazine feeder during firing, falls downthrough the opening 61, as soon as the feeder which has moved forwardbetween the side walls of the clip has been withdrawn into its rearposition for the refilling of the magazine.

A magazine can, of course, also be recharged when'removed from theweapon, and moreover for this purpose loose cartridges may be usedinstead of cartridge packs. In order that the lock of the weapon mayremain automatically in its open position after a magazine has beenemptied by firing, and so that the firing can be continued immediatelyafter the magazine has been refilled,the magazine feeder 16 strikes inknown manner, for instance, with its bearing member been fired from themagazine, is caught and held.

20 in its front end position, against the oppositely located projection64 of a lever 67 adapted to pivot. about a bolt 66 in the attachment 65of the magazine. frame 2. This lever, with its other projection 68,presses on an interrupter lever 69. mounted in the weapon, which in itsturn prevents any possibilityof firing or by direct locking of thebreech bolt the latter, after the last shot has in its backward openposition.

We claim:

1. A cartridge magazine. for firearms comprising a casing removablyattached'to the firearm and having an opening for the insertion of acartridge pack into the casing,meansat the front end of the casing forguiding cartridges intothe breech of the firearm, a cover for saidopening, means urging the cover to openposition, a cartridge feedermovable in said casing, means urging the feeder in the direction ofthe'guide means, and a latch cooperating with the cover and the feederto retain the feeder at the rear end of the casing while releasing thecover and to release the feeder when said latch engages the cover-toclose the opening. 1

2. A cartridge magazinefor firearms comprising a casing extendingtransversely from the bridge of the firearm-and removably attachedthereto, said casing having an opening in its top for the insertion of acartridge "pack, means at the bridge end of the'casingfor guidingcartridges intothe bridge ofthe firearm, acover for said opening hingedto the casing at the. bridge end thereof, means urging the cover to openposition; a cartridge feeder movable in'sa'id casing, means urging thefeeder in the direction of the guide means, and a latch cooperating withthe cover and-feederto retain the feeder at the outer end of the casingWhile releasing the 'cover and to release the'feeder when the said latchengages. thecover to close the opening.

'3. A cartridge magazine for firearms compristions. on the feeder andcover cooperating with said arms and so arranged that a greater movementof the lever is. required to release the cover than to release, thefeeder, and ramps on the feeder and the lever armengaging the sameeffective upon. an auxiliary movement of the feeder to impart suchgreater movement to the latch lever.

4.. A cartridge-magazine for firearms compris ing a casing having anopeningv for the insertion of a cartridge pack into the casing, means onthe casing for guiding cartridges into the breech of the firearm,cartridge retaining lips on the guide means, means for detachablysecuring. the casing in operative position on the firearm, a cover forsaid opening pivoted. to the magazine, a latch cooperating with thecover, a spring urging the cover into open position when the latchreleases the same, and a cartridge feeder movable in said casing andcooperating with the latch.

5. A cartridge magazine for firearms comprising a casing removablyattached to the firearm and having an opening for the insertion of acartridge pack intothe casing, means at the front end of the casing forguiding cartridges into the breech of the firearm, a cover for saidopening,

,means urging the cover to open. position, a cartridge feeder movable insaid casing, means urging thefeeder in the direction-of the guide means,a latch cooperating with the cover and the feeder to retain the feederat the rear end of the casingv while releasing the cover and to release.the. feeder when said latch engages the cover to close the opening, acurved lever pivoted to said casing and engaging a projection on thefeeder for moving the latter to latch engaging "position, and anoperating handlev on said lever, the curvature of the lever being,adapted to produce uniform resistance of the feeder urging means duringthe operation of the handle- 6'. A. cartridge magazine according toclaim 1,. comprising means operated by closure of the cover to releasethe cartridges from the cartridge pack. l,

7. A cartridge magazine according to claim 1 for use with a cartridgepack. in which the cartridges are retained by a clip, comprising meansin the casing for guiding thecartridges and clip, and inwhi'ch thecasing has a bottom. opening for discharge of. the clip when emptied.

FRITZ HERLACH. THEODOR. RAKULA.

